The Southern California Job Market : Making It Work : Where to Find Tips, Testing, Training at Little or No Cost
Aware Advisory
Services: vocational and educational counseling; not a placement service
Cost: $5 donation per visit, which may be waived for the unemployed; $15 fee for Strong Interest Inventory testing (includes counseling)
Hours: Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Address: Santa Monica YWCA, 2019 14th St., Santa Monica
Telephone: (310) 452-3833
Brady JobNet
Services primarily lower income individuals and families in East Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but all persons are welcome.
Services:
* employment readiness seminar given on alternate weeks in English and Spanish every Tues. and Wed., 9 a.m.-noon
* job search mentorships
* help with resumes
* interview practice
* placement and follow-ups
* referrals to employers
Cost: free to participants and employers, except $3 charge for seminar materials
Hours: Mon., Tues. and Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed. 8 a.m.-noon.
Address: 717 S. Brady Ave., Los Angeles
Telephone: (213) 722-4495
California Council for Veteran’s Affairs
Services:
* employment assistance
* job listings
* computer matching of applicant qualifications to employer needs
* educational resource library
* women’s shelter (veterans and nonveterans eligible)
Eligibility: must be a veteran
Cost: free
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; counseling 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Address: 3943 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
Telephone: (213) 299-6330
California Registry of Professional Counselors
Service: referrals to career counselors
Cost: referrals, free; counseling services, variable fees
Address: 2555 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 201, Fullerton
Telephone: (714) 871-6460
Career Planning Center
Private, nonprofit, community-based organization.
Services:
* job resource center featuring reference library and job listings
* skills assessment, counseling, resume critiquing and job search skills workshop by appointment
* psychotherapy related to job loss
* outplacement services to employers, including on-sight workshops
* JTPA-funded on-the-job training for eligible applicants
Cost: job resource center, library and job listings, free; fees vary for skills assessment, career counseling, resume critiquing and psychotherapy
Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Address: 1623 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles
Telephone: (310) 273-6633
Coalition for Women’s Economic Development
Nonprofit organization assisting low-income persons to achieve self-sufficiency through self-employment.
Services:
* entrepreneurial training
* technical assistance
* loans to low-income men and women to start or expand microbusinesses
* all services are offered in English and Spanish at five locations throughout Los Angeles County
Cost: free monthly orientations; workshops $20 and $45
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Telephone: (213) 489-1202
EMPLOY Network
Computerized network of over 50 nonprofit agencies that assists employers in filling job openings. Agencies forming the employment coalition assist job applicants with a variety of disabilities and special needs.
Services to employers:
* matching pre-screened applicants with job openings
* educational workshops on disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act
* technical assistance on accommodations and adaptations
* information on tax credits available to employers hiring people with special needs
* assistance on meeting affirmative action goals
Cost: free
Telephone: (800) 244-1JOB
Forty Plus
Nonprofit, self-help employment service for people over forty with professional, technical or executive experience.
Services:
* instruction in computer skills, resume preparation, interview and networking techniques
* job listings
* research library
* free seminars
* biweekly meetings
Cost: entrance fee, monthly dues and charges for computer time and telephone service
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Address: 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 510, Los Angeles
Telephone: (213) 388-2301
Other locations:
* 23172 Plaza Pointe Drive, Suite 285, Laguna Hills, (714) 581-7990
* 8845 University Center Lane, San Diego, (619) 450-4440
Los Angeles Urban League
Serving more than 90,000 people each year, the Los Angeles Urban League seeks to secure social and economic opportunities for Blacks and other minorities through a variety of programs, including counseling, training, placement and community development.
Services:
* Employment Services Department assists job-ready applicants who are professional, skilled or semi-skilled and seeking employment or a career change. Applicants and employers are served through counseling, workshops and a job bank.
* Data Processing Center offers courses in computer programming, computer operations and automated office procedures.
* Pomona Valley T.E.C. conducts specialized vocational training in electronics, machine tool technology and word processing/data entry.
* Milken Family Literacy & Youth Training Center provides instruc
tion in reading, writing, math and problem solving to assist youth and their families in developing skills to compete for employment.
* Pasadena-Foothill Branch offers career counseling and job placement
* Automotive Training Center
* Entrepreneurial Training and Business Development Center
* Financial Training Center
Cost: free
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Address: 3450 Mount Vernon Drive, Los Angeles (call for addresses of other locations)
Telephone: (213) 299-9660
Pasadena Senior Center
Employment services program for those 50 and older.
Services:
* referrals to job openings
* workshops
* referrals to other employment programs
* assistance in defining employment objectives and goals
* reference materials
Cost: $5 donation requested for employment services
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for job listings; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for interviews
Address: 85 East Holly St., Pasadena
Telephone: (818) 795-4331. Call for appointment prior to first visit.
Work Net Services
Nonprofit career development and job placement service.
Services:
* job preparation seminars
* one-on-one sessions
* assistance in survival job placements and career development Cost: free to job seekers and employers
Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Address: 1242 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite A, Pasadena
Telephone: (818) 793-5627
Second Careers
The Second Careers Program is a nonprofit project of the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles largely serving persons age 50 and older.
Services:
* job placement--primarily office-related opportunities, including clerical, managerial, professional and technical
* computer instruction and lab
* resource library
* retirement planning
Cost: free to job seekers; modest fees for employers; computer lab $10 per session
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; computer lab 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 3923 W. 6th St., Suite 216 (moving March 14 to 3530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1220)
Telephone: (213) 380-3166
The Training Institute
National organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the economically disadvantaged with funding from the Job Training Partnership Act.
Services: Training and placement for work as automated office technician, computerized financial specialists, medical billing specialist and public safety officer.
Cost: free to eligible applicants
Locations:
* 6th Street Campus - 3550 W. 6th St., Suite 205, Los Angeles, (213) 368-7303
* Olympic Campus - 714 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, (213) 747-6888
* Century Campus - 4611-4615 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood, (310) 674-9400
Women at Work
Nonprofit organization focusing on career concerns of women, but men are welcome.
Services:
* drop-in resource room featuring a library and job listings
* counseling, testing and resume writing
* specially funded programs for single parents, displaced homemakers and Hispanic professional women with limited English
* evening workshops on career planning, resume writing, interview techniques, networking and 50+ job hunting
* information dissemination and counseling on non-traditional job opportunities for women (trade and tech)
Cost: drop-in resource room, suggested donation $2; counseling and resume writing, $50; occupational testing, including counseling, $90; evening workshops range from free to $20
Hours: Mon., Tues. and Thurs., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wed., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Address: 50 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena
Telephone: (818) 796-6870
